Ikigai Restaurant

We had an absolutely amazing meal at Ikigai! I highly recommend the beef tongue but everything we had was delicious. Also take some time to look at the knives that are on display. Chef Nobel sourced Japanese chefs knives of all styles and restores them. We ended up buying 7 of them and he is having them delivered to us sharpened and honed and ready to use including a chefs knife that is over 100 years old and hand forged in Japan. Between the food and the knives, I think this may have been my favorite stop on my latest trip to chiang mai and a restaurant we plan to frequent when we are there. We did not have anything to eat that was not absolutely delicious (my mom loved the mushroom soup) and the menu truly encompasses the theory and belief of ikigai. I cannot say enough good things about this spot or chef Nobel. Highly recommend. If I could give more than 5 stars I would :)

Our party of 6 enjoyed our first dining experience at Ikigai last night. We went on Saturday evening during the Long Lunch hours. It was an experience we never had before. First off the ambience in the cozy restaurant was beautiful. Soft lights, music and decor made it an intimate evening for our party. The unique dishes came out one after the other, but spaced well enough apart that you could enjoy them. Each one was an art piece thoughtfully displayed on the plate and the pop of flavors with some dishes in particular new to us and flavor combinations never tried before. I think we had about 11 dishes in all. It’s a must try here in Chiang Mai. Thank you to Chef and owner James and his staff for a new culinary experience in Chiang Mai. Highly recommend. Great value too.

Thank you James, Note, Boat and all of the other staff at Ikigai. The food was fantastic, the order of serving dishes was perfect, starting from very fresh and light, to more rich dishes. It's very clear that a lot of thought and choice went into the selection and order of dishes. Whilst I don't personally have any dietary restrictions, I noticed the food at other tables was adapted to suit every person's requirements. My only complaint is that my stomach wasn't big enough to fit more food! The price was 900 baht for as much as you can eat, which is fantastic value for money given the quality of the food. If I could give 6 stars out of 5 I would, sadly google won't let me! Oh and by the way James if you read the full review, mai mee tong sia.